Gutter-broom attachment for sweeping machines



- M. V. LIDDELL GU'I'TER BROOM ATTACHMENT FOR S'WEEPING MAQHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1925 T 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Moses /0 Z126 Lzddell Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,728

' M. v. LlDDELL GUTTER BROOM ATTACHMENT FQR SWEEPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1923 '6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1720612251" W/bses (/olnqy Zz'cidell.

Oct. 16, 1.928.

M. V. LIDDELL GUTTER BROOM ATTACHMENT FOR SWEEPING MACHINES Filed um 19, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet I 5 I mnnuuuu I W W W W M. V. LIDDELL GUT'IER' BROOM ATTACHMENT FOR SWEEPING MACHINES Filed Nov 19, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Got. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES MOSES VOLNEY LIDDELL, OF MAT'I ITU CK, NEW YORK.

oU TER-Bnoorr ATTACHMENT non swn r ne MACHIYINES.

' Applic ation filed November 19, 1923. Serial No. 675,440

This invention relates to means for mounting upon a sweeping machine, for instance,

a power driven pick-up sweeper foristreet and road cleaning purposes, a broom of the kind usually des gnated as a gutter-broom, comprising a body of splints, or bristles mountedto rotate upon a vertical or approximatelyvertical axis. p 7

One object of the invention isto provide means whereby a gutter broom, whilebeing rotated about its axis, will "be permitted to feed bodily outward fromthe' vehicle upon which it is mounted in order to maintain a sweeping path that extends' entirely to a curb orother obstruction that renders the surface inaccessible to the main broom of the sweeper; and in realizing this end, according tothe preferred embodiment of the invention, the gutter broom of a sweeper is rotatably supported in a head which is connected with the frame of the sweeperthrough means of vertically spaced radius arms havingtheir remote ends pivoted to the frame in a vertical axis offset fromthe head in the longitudinaldirection of the machine, so that the head, with thegutterbroom, will be free to swing laterally of the machine,within limits, the head will be sustained against torsional displacement, and the position of the shaft of the broom will be definitely fired,preferably at an angle to the vertical, which limits surface contact of the broom to the forward outward segment thereof. A feature of the construction incidenttothe preferred means for realization of this object consists in means for raising the broom from operative position and thrusting it downward to such position, which means is mounted upon the swinging head so that the load of the elevating means as well as the broom is not only and to this end, another feature of ,theinvention consists in combining the features of limited segn'ient oi contact and freedom of horizontal swinging. A subordinate feature incident to the preferred means for rcalizingthis ob]cc t consisting n providlng a resilient return connection for the head,

which normallytends to draw the head inward, but with a force less than the outward feeding force developed by rotation ofthe broom, with its limitedsegment in contact with the surface,jso that whenever the broom is raised out of contact with the surface; it

will be held to the inner limit of its horizon tal swinging movemenhand thereby reduce the overall lateral dimension of the machine during transporter while sweeping areasnot involving the gutter or curb. n

Still another object is to sustain the load ofthe broom mounting, through the broom,

upon the surface that is being swept, with the dual effect of insuring proper sweeping contact by the load sustained, and relieving the-head and'radius arms from substantial bearing upon the frame of the vehicle during the swinging movements of the broom, to v which end, the means for lowering and raising the broom to and from operative position is mounted upon the head in which the broom is rotatably mounted and with which the broom swings. One subordinate feature in cident to the preferred means i for realizing this obj ect consists in fixing the rotary broom shaft against vertical movementin the swing ing head and having theelevating means connected with the broom in a manner to raise the broom upon the shaft as distinguished from sliding the shaft in theliead;

and another such suboirdinate feature consists in developing thebroom elevating means in the form of a lever which is fulcrunied upon the head so as to partake of the swing ing movements of the latter, and has its manipulating end extending a substantial disitancetoward the pivots of the radius arms about which the head swinga'so that the lever remains within convenient reach of the op;

erator in all positions of the head. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide means to relieve the bristles of the broom from excessive lateral thrust against the curb during gutter swecpin' end, another feature of the invention conguard that will impinge against the, curb under excessive: outward. feed of the broom pressure; this curb guard being preferably in the form of anannulus supported with freedom of rotation in order to reduce the friction of its own contact with the curb,

and also being, in the preferred embodiment of this feature of the invent on, supported upon the broom through means of a sleeve that is eccentric to the shaft of the broom and therefore adapted, by rotation of the eccentric to different relative positions, to

vary the offset of the curb guard toward the curb and render the limiting actionv apprO- priate to different stages the length of thebristles as they wear away in use. r

In the accompanying drawings which show that portion of a sweeping machine with .which the present invention is immediately concerned and 111 wh ch the'preferred embodnnents of theseveral features of the 1n? venti onare included by way of illustration Figure 1 1s a side elevation of the forward portion of a sweeping machine including its power developing and transmittingelements and certain elements of control.

Figure 2 isa plan view of the same, with certain part-sof the vehicle omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical axial section showing details of the construction, mounting and control of the gutter broom.

, Figure 4 is an elevational view of parts shownin Figure 3, as viewed from the right in the latter figure. v

,, Figure 5 1s a plan view, and Flgure 6 IS a s1de elevation of a modified mounting for the gutter broom whereby it is permitted to feed'outward when in contact with thesur-' face and retracted when raised therefrom.

Figure 7 is a planview showing a third method of mounting a gutter broom with out-:

ward feed and automatic retraction. Figure 8 1s aplan view showlng a fourth method of reallzing the functlons of outward feed and automatic retraction of a gutter broom. I L

Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively, a side elevation partly in axial section, and a plan View of a gutter broom having associated therewith a curb guard and means for changing the offsetof said guard in'the direction of thecur Figure 11 is a view similafrtoFigureQ showmg the curb guard mounteduponfthe gutter brooinavitli freedom of rotation but without adjustment. v I

I Figures 12 and13 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan view showing still another method of mounting-acurb guard upon a gutter broom.

Referrmg more particularlv to Figures 1 and 2, 1 represents the chassis frame and 2 the power plant of a motor propelled sweeping machine. and 3 representsia gutter broom mounted on said machinewith its shaftt in approximately, vertical position. In order that the gutter broom 3 may move outward and inward laterally of the frame 1, shaft at is .gutter surface and the curb.

journaled in a swinging head 5 comprising a cylindrical housing 5 and" a supporting bracket 5 and terminates in a gear box 6 in which its bevel gear 7 meshes with a gear 8 on the Stubshaft 9 which is connected through universal joint 10, connecting rod 11, and universal joint 12 witha horizontal shaft 13 which is] driven from the power plant 2. Swinginghead 5 is connected with chassis frame 1 through means of radius "arms 14, 15

vertically spaced apart so that they can swing 1 in horizontal planes above and" below said frame, and having their ends remote from the head connected with the frame through pintles 16, 17 lying in, a vertical axis distant from the head 5 in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Head '5 is thereby adapted to swing horizontally about thepintles 16,17

an axis and in a direction ,approxin'iately which the machine is being driven, and thus insures engagement of thebristles with the entire area of the gutter and anglebetween the 18 represents .a limit stop mounted on the frame land extending across the path of one of the radius arms. for instance.,the arm 15, 1

IOU

to limit the outward movement of the broom 8y i under the action just described. 19 represents] a springwhic'h may be employed if desired for normally drawing back the broom when raised out of contact with the surface; or the broom maybe drawn inward through means of a lever, now to be described, 'by which the broom is raised and lowered.

,To adapt the broom 3 to beraised and lowered relativelvto its mounting and thus presented or "ithdra wn from working position. the broom ispreferablv fitted to slide up and down upon i t-s shaft a, the latter be ng fired against vertical novi-inent 1n the head 5; and iii-order hat the broom may be loaded by its elevating and depressing mechanism. and'the bearing of the head?) as well as the upper radius arm 14 uponthe frame 1 largely relieved when thebr ooin is in operatiomtli'e elevating and "depressing mechanism is mounted upon the head 5 and involvesnot' only means for sustaining the broom in elevat-ed position but means forjregulat-ing the depression of the broom upon its" shaft.

which latter n' eans is adjustable inorder to mnn'iensate for reduction of the v -rtical di n'iensionof' the broom as the bristles wear lISU away. Thus, the raising and lowering mech- 511115111 may comprise a fulcruming arm mounted on the gear box 6, and a lever21 1 fulcrumed at 21 onsaid'arm, connected-by V links22 with the broom 3, and having itswhich the grip of the lever swings, andtherefore avoids lIlOVlHg' the 'lever beyond reach of the operator. Segment rack 25 receiv-cs't-he locking dog 26 0f the lever21 1n the notch 27 for holding the broom elevated.

The position of the joint 28 between links 22v and leverQl, in relation to the fulcrum 20 of said lever and the mass of the free end of the lever beyond said joint 28' is such that not only does the load of the lever assist in depressing the broom, but reaction "from such downward thrust develops a substantial upward moment on the fulcrum arm 20, j

which, transmitted'to the swinging head 5, largely relieves the bearing of the head and the radius arm 14 upon the frame.

Shaft 13 drives the connecting rod 11 through means of bevel gears 30,. 31. of which the gear 30 is carried by the shaft 13 but is loose thereon and enters into driving relation thereto through manipulation of the clutch 321 Thus, the shaft 13 canbe employed for driving other: mechanisms which enter into the organization of the complete sweeping machine,'such, for instance, as the main sweeping broom, elevator, "etc not shown, and thus the gutter broombmay be i completely thrown out of action when. the 'machine is used for sweeping unobstructed SUI:

faces or in situations where the. gutter broom is not desired. i

, Shaft 13 is preferably driven through bevel gears 33 from shaft 34 of an auxiliary trans mission 35, which in. turn receives its drive from thernotor shaft 36. the ,auxiliarytrans mission 35being preferably separate anddistinct from the. transmission through which the shaft 36 propels th'esweeping machine.

7 These features are described and claimed in my application filed "of even date herewith and scriallynumbered 67 5,441; and except for certain novel features in the variable speed drive of brooms. including the gutterbrooin, in relation to re ume of the machine, as well as the condition of driving either or both brooms independently of the propulsion of the machine when desired. they bear no special relation to the construction and oueration ofthegutter broom per so, which forms the subject matter of the present apwith a curb guard 37 (Figures 9, 10,an d 11) or 37 (Figures 12 and 13 in the form of an annulus surrounding the body of bristles in a planc'intermediate between the sweeping surfaceand the disk of the broom, and this guard is preferably mounted with freedom of rotation, as, for instance, by supporting it through-means of a spider 38 (Figures 9, 10 and 11) ina bearing 39 (Figures 9' and 10) or 38. (Figures 11, 12, and13): carried by the broom. And in, order that the. guard 37 may be adjusted. relatively to" the axis of thebroom and thus compensate for changes in thc jdiameter of the body of bristles as the latter wear awayfthe bearing, 39 is provided hya sleeve lO (Figures 3, 9 and 10) mounted upon the hub-41 (FigJ3) orv 41 (Fig. of the broom through the medium of an'eccentrio 42' which is adapted to be adjusted to and held in any designed rotary position by means of lever43u By adjusting the sleeve 4.0 vertically, as,.for instance, by releasing and resetting theset screw (Figs. 3 and 9) the height of the. guard 37 can be changed appropriately to changes in the height of the brush resulting from wearing away ofthe bristles y 7 If desired, the curb guard may be mounted directly upon the broom and without radial adjustmrnt, as shown in Figures 12 and 13,

wherein the annulus 37 is rotatably supported on arms 38 bolted directly to the disk of the brooms For supporting the broom with freedomvof lateral swingingmovementrelatively to the machine frame upon which it-is mounted, means other'than-that disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 may be employed. For instance, as .shown in Figures 5 and 6. the head 5 and box 6 may be sustained with lateral move-J ment relative to the machine frame through means of a lazytong constructlon 48, spring Ill) 47? being provided for normally returning the broom. Or, as shown in Figureh the gutter broom, and its appurtenant mountings maybe sustained by a radiusarm 49 pivoted toa bracket arm 50and provided witha con trolling spring 51 for drawing it inward. when not inuse.

,Iclaimri j I 1. In a machine for sweeping surfaces adjacent to curbs, a, frame, a rotary broom positioned with its axis of rotation approximately vertical butinclined the verticalplanc of travel, to limit its contact witlithe sweptsurface to a: sector whichin the rotation of the broom moves away fromthecurb. means to tati'ng the broom and developing from said limi tedscctor of contactau inherent feed in 1 force in the broom which is toward the curb and a broomecnounting connecting the broom with the frame with freedom ofthe broom'to respond to said feeding force. a

2. In a machine for sweeping surfaces adjacent to curbs, a frame, a rotary broom positioned with its axis of rotation approximately vertical but inclined in the "vertical plane of travel, to limit its contact with the swept surface to: a sector whichiin the rotation of the broom moves away from the curb, means rotating. the broom and developing from said limited sector of contact an inherent feeding force in the broom which is toward the curb, a broom-mounting connecting the broom with the fra'meiwith freedom of the broom torespono to said feeding force, means for ItllSlIlg: said broom fromsurface contact, and means fordrawing the broom toward the frame when so raised, acting constantly but yieldingly upon the broom, and beingof less force than the outward feeding force inherent in the broom when it is in surface Contact 3. Ina machine'for sw eping surfaces adjacent to curbs, a fra-me, a rotary broom posi- I tioned with its axis of rotation approximately vertical but inclined in a direction to limit sweeping contact to a sector of the broom which, in the rotation of the broom, moves away from the curb, means for rotating the broom means mounting the broom upon said frame comprising a radius arm having pivotalconnection with the, frame, and extending from said pivotal connection forwardly withrespect to the direction of travel of the machineand swinginglaterally on said pivotal connection under the resistance of the broom, and means for limiting outward lateral movement of the broom. I

4'. In a sweeping machine, a frame; a rotat ing gutter broom, ahead in whichsaid broom is mounted with freedom of movement of the broom to and from the swept surface and with its axis of rotatlon approximately vert cal, but inclined in a direction to limit'contact' of the broom with the pavement, to a sector of p the broom which moves away from the curb. during rotation, means connectlng said head with the frame said means being movable with the head laterally outward from the frame under the feeding force of thebroom, and broom-raising means which presses the broom downward when the broom is lowered; said broom-raising means being sustained by and reacting upwardly ,upon the'head to re;

duce the load of said head while pressing downwardly upon the broom. r v

' 5. In combination in a sweeping machine, a frame, a gutter broom rotating about an approximately vertical axis, means for mounting said broom upon theframeand permitting it to move bodilv outward thereon without changing the angular position of the axis of the broom, and a stop limiting said swinging movement: said means'comprising ahead in which the broom is journalled, and

,zontally i swinging of the machine andwith freedom of the mounting being movable laterally to and from the machi'n a vertical support for said laterally movable broom-mounting, and broom-raising means carried upon and sustained against vertical displacement by said broom-mounting, adapted to press the broom downward, and reacting upwardly ,upon' the broom-mounting and reducing the pressure of the mounting upon said vertical support while the broom is depressed;

7. In a sweeping machine, aframe, a head, a radius. arm connecting. the head with the frame with freedom of horizontal swinging movement in the head, a gutter broom journalied in said head, and a pressuredeveloping means for depressing said broom upon the surface; saidmeans being mounted on and sustained against :vertical displacement by the head while imposing downward pressure upon the broom and thereby reacting 11pwardlyupon the head from V the thrust inci-' dent to the depression of the broom, and

,8. In a sweepingmachine, a frame, a horiradius arm pivotally nou nted on said frame and projecting forwardly from its pivot, a gutter broom having an approziimately vertical shaft journaled in the forward free end ofsaid arm, anda broom elevating and depressing lever fulcrumed on said arm andhaving positive lifting and del pressing connection with said broom and havof the arms" 9. In a machine for swee in surfaces ad- V l e acent to'curbs, a frame, a rotating broom, a

171?, an operating end adapted for manipulatron extendingrearwardly toward the pDOli which moves away 'fromthe curb, and with freedom of the broom to move downwardly and upwardly to and from the'surface swept, a radius arm mounting said head upon the frame with freedom of the head to swing laterally, said radins arm being pivoted on the frame at a point in rear ofthe broom and thereby adapted to thrust the broom forwardlv in the travel, oft-he machine, and a broomby the lever partakes ofthe lateral swinging movements of the head and broom; said lever having a free manipulating end extending rearwardly near the radius arln and toward the pivot of the radius arm.

10. In a street sweeping machine, a gutter broom, a head mounted to swing horizontally about acenter onsaid machine in rear of said head, a rotatable broom hav ng a shaft ournalled in said head and swinging bodily with thehead, a driving member mounted on the machine independently of sald head, and a connecting rod universally jointed to said driving member in the l1ne of said center and extending forwardly therefrom and connected with said shaft.

11. In a machine for sweeping surfaces adjacent to curbs, a frame, a rotatable broom, means mounting the broom" upon the frame with freedom of the broom to move laterally toward a curb, and a guard mounted upon said broom and limiting the approach of the broom to the curb; said guardcomp'rising an annulus surrounding the axis of rotation of the broom, in a substantially horizontal plane, at a level'above the swept surface and mount ed for rotation independent of the rotation of the broom. i a

12. In a machine for sweeping surfaces adjacent to curbs, a frame, a rotating broom,

means mounting said broom upon said frame, with its axis of rotation approximately vertical and with freedom of the broom'to move laterally toward a curb, a guard for limiting the approach of the broom to the curb, comprising an annulus surrounding the axis of rotation of the broom in an approximately horizontal plane above the swept surface, and means carried with the broom in mounting the guard with freedom of rotation independent of the rotation of the broom, the last-named means being adjustable relatively to said axis of rotation in a plane that changes the approach of thebroom to the curb.

13. In a street sweepingmachine, a frame, a rotatable broom mounted on'said frame with its axis of'rotation in approximately vertical position and movable bodily outward relatively'thereto, toward acurb past which themachine moves, a curb guard surrounding said broom in an approximately horizontalplane at a height t iat adapts it to encounter the curb, an eccentric surrounding the axis of rotation of said broom and upon which a said guard is mounted, and means for fixing said eccentric at different angles ofrotation to vary the offset oft-he day of November, 1923.

' MOSES VOLNEY LIDDELLQ' 

